Secondary battery module, battery information management device, battery information management system, secondary battery reuse system, secondary battery recovery and sales system, secondary battery reuse method, and secondary battery recovery and sales method

ABSTRACT

A secondary battery module includes a battery information storage unit for storing electric characteristic information and usage history information of the secondary battery module. A battery information management device and a terminal device respectively include interfaces to be connected to the secondary battery module. The battery information management device is provided with a battery information database. The battery information management device is connected to the terminal device through a communications network. In this way, battery information stored in the battery information storage unit, which is acquired by the battery information management device and the terminal device, is accumulated in the battery information database. Moreover, the battery information management device grades the secondary battery module for reuse based on the battery information and a predetermined threshold.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a secondary battery module, a batteryinformation management device, a battery information management system,a secondary battery reuse system, a secondary battery recovery and salessystem, a secondary battery reuse method, and a secondary batteryrecovery and sales method, which are suitable for a vehicle or anindustrial application.

2. Description of the Related Art

Global environmental issues are currently becoming major concerns andzero-emission techniques and recycle techniques are drawing attentions.In particular, the way how to recycle a rechargeable battery thatcontains heavy metal such as nickel or lead is a major problem among theenvironmental issues. Meanwhile, carbon dioxide emissions-reduction hasbeen urged in every place to prevent global warming, and substitution ofhybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) or pure electric vehicles (PEVs) forgasoline-engine-driven vehicles that are major sources of carbon dioxideemissions has begun.

As of now, large-sized secondary batteries including a nickel-metalhydride battery, a lead-acid battery and a lithium secondary battery areused as electric sources for driving hybrid electric vehicles or pureelectric vehicles. Meanwhile, in the case of using a next-generationhydrogen fuel cell battery as a main power source, it is likely that thesecondary batteries such as the nickel-metal hydride battery or thelithium battery will be used as auxiliary power. Accordingly, a demandfor the large-sized secondary batteries is expected to increase in thefuture, and concurrently, a quantity of secondary batteries that becomeunrechargeable and are disposed of is also expected to increase rapidly.Therefore, construction of a secondary battery recycle system is anurgent issue.

In this specification, batteries that are capable of charging anddischarging electricity for multiple times will be generically referredto as “secondary batteries.” In this case, the secondary batteries mayalso include capacitor (condenser) type electric devices such aselectric double layer capacitors. To be more precise, the secondarybatteries include what is termed as “secondary batteries” such as thelead-acid battery, the nickel-metal hydride battery, the lithium-ionbattery, the lithium secondary battery and a nickel cadmium battery, andcapacitor-type electrochemical devices such as an aqueous electricdouble layer capacitor and a nonaqueous electric double layer capacitor.Moreover, in this specification, the lithium secondary battery means abattery which is not only dischargeable but also chargeable by use of Liions. The lithium secondary battery includes a lithium-ion batterycomposed of a cathode active material and an anode active material whichallow insertion and desorption of Li ions and an electrolyte containingLi ions.

The large-sized secondary battery as represented by an electric sourcefor driving a hybrid electric vehicle or a pure electric vehicle isrequired to have a high output or a high capacity. Accordingly, thenumber of cell series increases inside a battery module that constitutessuch a secondary battery. The size may become as huge as 15 liters oreven more. Table 1 shows some examples of large-sized secondarybatteries. TABLE 1 Lithium Nickel-metal Electric secondary hydrideLead-acid double layer battery battery battery capacitor Cell voltage(V) 3.6 7.2 2 2.7 Assembled battery 173 201 24 54 voltage (V) Capacity 5(Ah) 6.5 (Ah) 83 (Ah) 65 (F) Size (dm³) 22.5 46 132 5.6 Weight (kg) 2051 226 6.6 Energy (Wh) 865 1306 1992 53 Energy density 43.3 25.6 8.8 8.0(Wh/kg)

These batteries require high performances in lifetime as well as output,and therefore consume large amounts of high-functional and expensivematerials. Accordingly, there is a strong demand, in particular forreduction in product prices, and moreover, for reduction in disposalquantity with regard to large-sized secondary batteries in particular toreduce product prices, and moreover, to reduce disposal quantity. Inother words, to reduce product prices of secondary batteries and to makeeffective use of resources, it is vital to establish techniques formaking effective use of secondary batteries, including a recyclingtechnique, for example.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-126669 (Paragraphs 0073to 0126, FIGS. 1 to 7) discloses an example of a recycling supportsystem by means of leasing industrial lead-acid batteries and carbatteries (which are also lead-acid batteries). According to PatentDocument 1, a battery manufacturer leases car batteries to car owners,and monitors conditions and usage of the leased car batteries by use ofvarious sensors. Here, the information obtained from these sensors isgathered to a management center by use of user terminals such as carnavigation devices. Then, the management center manages the conditionsand usage of the car batteries individually by use of a database topredict the lifetime with a battery information analyzer and to recoverthe car batteries having little time to end. Meanwhile, the recoveredbatteries are separated into recyclable materials and wastes, and therecyclable materials are allegedly used again as the materials for carbatteries by battery manufacturers. This system is supposed to be ableto achieve a proper and reliable process for recycling or disposal ofcar batteries.

Meanwhile, only small-sized consumer batteries are recycled in the caseof high-performance secondary batteries such as nickel cadmium batteriesor in the case of capacitor systems and a full-scale recycle system hasnot been established yet in light of large-sized industrial secondarybatteries of these types. In fact, the only secondary batteries thatapply high-performance materials and are recycled into electrodematerials are nickel cadmium batteries and lead-acid batteries. On thecontrary, nickel-metal hydride batteries and lithium-ion batteries aremerely used as raw materials of stainless steel products, magnets, andthe like, and there is no technique for recycling these batteries asbattery materials.

If hybrid electric vehicles and the like are made public and circulationof large-sized secondary batteries increases in the market in theabove-mentioned situation where techniques for recycling secondarybatteries have yet to be established, the disposal quantity of suchlarge-sized secondary batteries will presumably become enormous. This isbecause of larger amounts and tremendously larger usage of materials ofsuch large-sized secondary batteries in comparison with consumerproducts.

Reuse of the secondary batteries is an option to reduce the disposalquantity of the large-sized secondary batteries and to make effectiveuse thereof. For example, only the reuse within the same system has beenput into practice as seen in replacement of batteries with re-builtproducts in hybrid electric vehicles. Nevertheless, batterymanufacturers have prohibited to diverse applications of these batteriesto those different from the original application. This is because it isnot possible to ensure performances and safeties of the batteries whenorigins and usage histories thereof were uncertain.

Incidentally, a secondary battery, or a large-sized secondary batteryfor a vehicle use in particular, is often provided with a batterycontroller. The battery controller computes battery conditions forestimating a remaining battery level or exploiting the batteryperformance efficiently. Here, a host system is configured to controlcharging and discharging of the battery based on the informationobtained by computing the battery conditions. In this specification,such a secondary battery and a battery controller for controllingoperations of the secondary battery will be generically referred to as a“secondary battery system.” Meanwhile, a secondary battery manufacturedin a way that multiple cells are contained into a given case so as tosatisfy predetermined electrical specifications will be referred to as a“secondary battery module.” In other words, the secondary battery systemis assumed to be composed of one or more secondary battery modules andthe battery controller for controlling the secondary battery modules.

At this time, the battery controller includes a nonvolatile memory suchas a flash memory. This nonvolatile memory stores electricalcharacteristic information and usage condition of each of the secondarybattery modules to be controlled by the battery controller. Suchinformation and condition include, namely, rated or initial capacity,resistance, range of voltage value where the battery is usable, range ofcurrent value, available power value, open-circuit voltage and the like.Moreover, programs including a remaining amount estimation computingprogram and an anomaly diagnostic program are also stored therein. Inaddition, anomaly flags by the diagnostic program, actual resistances ofthe batteries, and usage history information such as capacities, changerates, maximum and minimum operating voltages, and operating time of thebatteries may be stored for the purpose of countermeasures in case oftroubles, for example. That is, the battery controller normally retainsthe electrical characteristic information on the secondary batterymodules subject to control, the control programs, the usage historyinformation and the like.

Moreover, in the case of replacing or detaching the secondary batterysystem, the secondary battery system is generally disassembled into theindividual secondary battery modules and the battery controller. Whenthe secondary battery system is disassembled into the pieces, it ispossible to read out the information on the anomaly flags for thebatteries, which are stored in the nonvolatile memory of the batterycontroller, for example. However, links of that information with thesecondary battery modules are hardly maintained once if the secondarybattery system is disassembled. Moreover, the information on theelectrical characteristics of the battery modules is lost simultaneouslywith the disassembly of the system because the information isconventionally stored in the controller unit. For these reasons, it isdifficult to reuse the secondary battery modules after the disassembly.

As described above, in the conventional case, for example, of thelead-acid battery recycling support system disclosed in JapaneseUnexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-126669, lead-acid batteries aredisassembled or destroyed once after used, and only useful components orconstituent materials are reused. In other words, the document containsthe description concerning the technique for crushing and recycling usedlead-acid batteries for vehicles and the like. However, the applicationof that technique is limited to lead-acid batteries and the documentdoes not disclose any technique to reuse large-sized secondary batteriesin general.

Moreover, the information including the electrical characteristicinformation, the usage conditions, and usage histories is essential toreuse secondary batteries. However, a secondary battery reuse system inwhich the information is utilized has yet to be realized. In the case ofattempting to realize such a reuse system in the current technique,there is an obstacle when the secondary battery system is disassembled.That is, a correlation between the secondary battery modules with theinformation stored in the nonvolatile memory of the secondary batterysystem, such as the electrical characteristic information, the usageconditions or the usage histories are lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above-described problems of the related art, it is anobject of the present invention to provide a secondary battery modulewhich is capable of avoiding a loss of electrical characteristicinformation or usage history information on the secondary battery moduleincluded in a secondary battery system even when the secondary batterysystem is disassembled. It is also an object of the present invention toprovide a battery information management device and a batteryinformation management system for smoothly and efficiently reusing thesecondary battery module. Accordingly, a lower-cost and environmentalcycling battery reuse system is realized, in which a large-sizedsecondary battery module is utilized.

To achieve the object, the secondary battery module of the presentinvention includes battery information storage means for storing atleast one of electrical characteristic information and usage historyinformation on the secondary battery module, and interface means forconnecting the battery information storage means to a battery controllerfor controlling an operation of the secondary battery module.

Meanwhile, a battery information management device of the presentinvention includes interface means to be connected to the secondarybattery module. Here, battery information stored in the batteryinformation storage means of the secondary battery module is read out byuse of the interface means. The second battery module is then graded forreuse based on at least one threshold separately predetermined for thebattery information and the battery information which is read out.Moreover, the battery information management device of the presentinvention includes a battery information database for accumulating thebattery information on the secondary battery module read out by theinterface means.

Moreover, in the battery information management system of the presentinvention, the battery information management device is connected to aterminal device through a communications network. The terminal devicereads out the battery information stored in the battery informationstorage means of the secondary battery module. The battery informationmanagement device then receives transmission of the battery informationread out from the secondary battery module by the terminal device. Thebattery information management device accumulates the batteryinformation in the battery information database.

It is assumed that allowable limits (thresholds) of performances ofsecondary battery modules respectively for prescribed applications tofirst and second systems in each of which the secondary battery moduleis used are defined as L1 and L2 satisfying L2>L1 (provided that theallowable limits herein represent lower limits and the inequality signis reversed when the allowable limits represent upper limits). The reusesystem is configured to apply the secondary battery module used in thefirst system to the second system having the allowable limit L2 when aperformance of the secondary battery module attains the allowable limitL1. Moreover, the reuse system applies the secondary battery module usedin the second system to a third system having an allowable limit L3(L3>L2) when the performance of the secondary battery module attains theallowable limit L2. Hereinafter, the secondary battery module isrepeatedly applied in the same manner.

According to the secondary battery module of the present invention, theelectrical characteristic information or the usage history informationon the secondary battery module is stored in the battery informationstorage means of the secondary battery module instead of the batterycontroller. Accordingly, even if the secondary battery system isdisassembled for reusing the secondary battery module so that thesecondary battery module is separated from the battery controller, it ispossible to prevent the loss of the electrical characteristicinformation or the usage history information on the secondary batterymodule. As a consequence, this makes it possible to reuse the secondarybattery module.

Moreover, according to the battery information management device and thebattery information management system of the present invention, thesecondary battery module obtained by the disassembly is connected to thebattery information management device or the terminal device.Accordingly, the electrical characteristic information or the usagehistory information on the secondary battery module, which is stored inthe storage means thereof, is read out and the secondary battery moduleis graded for reuse. The information is then accumulated in the batteryinformation database. The battery information database is accessiblefrom everywhere through the communications network and the terminaldevice. Accordingly, it is possible to reuse the secondary batterymodule smoothly and efficiently.

Furthermore, a large-sized secondary battery can be repeatedly reused bymeans of the secondary battery reuse system or a secondary batteryrecovery and sales system of the present invention. Accordingly, it ispossible to reduce the disposal amount of the secondary batteries, andalso to reduce prices for such secondary batteries.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide asecondary battery module which is capable of avoiding the loss of theelectrical characteristic information and the usage history informationon the secondary battery module included in a secondary battery systemeven when the secondary battery system is disassembled. This also makesit possible to reuse the secondary battery module smoothly andefficiently by use of the database accumulating the electricalcharacteristic information and the usage history information on thesecondary battery module, and grading information for reusing thesecondary battery module. Moreover, it is possible to effectively use upthe inner energy of the battery. Such a configuration can contribute toreduction in the disposal amount of batteries and to reduction inbattery costs. It is therefore highly effective for stabilizing pricesof large-sized batteries. Since batteries are replaced based onpredetermined thresholds, it is possible to simplify maintenances of thebatteries and systems in which the batteries are used. It is alsopossible to control the batteries depending on variation in the batteryperformances associated with the use thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing an example of an aspect of secondary batteryreuse according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of an aspect of secondary batteryreuse logistics according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a configuration of a secondarybattery system in the case of applying the present invention to a systemproduct such as an automobile.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a configuration of a secondarybattery system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an outline of operations of a batterycontroller according to the embodiment of the present invention in theform of a processing flow.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of an overall configuration of abattery information management system according to the embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of configurations of a batteryinformation management device and a terminal device in the batteryinformation management system according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of a processing flow at a time ofprocessing a recovered secondary battery module, in the batteryinformation management device according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of a configuration of a secondarybattery module according to a second modified example of the embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of a configuration of a secondarybattery module according to a third modified example of the embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view showing an example of an overall configuration of abattery information management system according to a sixth modifiedexample of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of a configuration of a householdfuel cell system according to a seventh aspect of the embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Aspect of Secondary Battery Reuse)

FIG. 1 is a view showing an example of an aspect of secondary batteryreuse according to an embodiment of the present invention. Generally, asecondary battery can be repeatedly used by charging. However, forexample, a chargeable electric capacity is gradually reduced and aninternal resistance increases instead when reusing the secondary batteryover and over again. In the end, the electric capacity and the internalresistance cannot meet thresholds that are defined in an applicationsystem, and the secondary battery would not be used any longer.Conventionally, such a secondary battery no longer used is just disposedof.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a secondary battery system isrepeatedly applied to a certain system A (Step S11). In a case wherevalues of the electrical characteristics and the like of a secondarybattery module included in the secondary battery system do not satisfythresholds required by the system A (No in Step S12), the process isadvanced to Step S13. For example, in a case where the internalresistance of the secondary battery module becomes higher than athreshold R₁ required by the system A, the secondary battery system isapplied to a system B as a reproduced secondary battery system either asit is or after disassembly and reconstruction, the system B having arequired threshold R₂ of the internal resistance, which is higher thanR₁, (Step S13).

Similarly, in a case where the values of electrical the characteristicsand the like of the secondary battery module included in the recycledsecondary battery system do not satisfy thresholds required by thesystem B (No in Step S14), the process is advanced to Step S15. Forexample, in a case where the internal resistance of the secondarybattery module becomes higher than the threshold R₂ required by thesystem B, the secondary battery system is applied to a system C as areproduced secondary battery system either as it is or after disassemblyand reconstruction, the system C having a required threshold R₃ of theinternal resistance, which is higher than R₂ (Step S15).

Moreover, in a case where the values of the electrical characteristicsand the like of the secondary battery module included in the recycledsecondary battery system do not satisfy thresholds required by thesystem C (No in Step S16), the process is advanced to Step S17. Forexample, in a case where the internal resistance of the secondarybattery module becomes higher than the threshold R₃ required by thesystem C and there is no applicable system that allows an internalresistance higher than R3, the secondary battery will be disposed of(Step S17).

That is, assuming that the thresholds for the internal resistancesrequired respectively by the systems A, B and C are R₁, R₂ and R₃,respectively, the secondary battery module is applied to the group ofsystems in which the required thresholds R for the internal resistancessatisfy R₁<R₂<R₃.

As described above, in this embodiment, the secondary battery module isreused depending on the thresholds such as the electricalcharacteristics required by the application systems. In other words,even when the secondary battery module is no longer applicable to acertain system, the module will be reused in another system for whichthe module satisfies a limitation of the threshold.

To put it plainly, as shown in FIG. 1, the secondary battery module isfirst used in a large-current application (Step S21). When the secondarybattery module is no longer usable in the large-current application, themodule is then used in a medium-current application (Step S23). When thesecondary battery module is no longer usable in the medium-currentapplication, the module is then used in a small-current application(Step S25). In this case, assuming that currents I required for theapplications are defined respectively as I₁ for the large-currentapplication, I₂ for the medium-current application, and I₃ for thesmall-current application, then the currents I satisfy a correlation ofI₁>I₂>I₃. Thereafter, the secondary battery module is disposed of whenthe module is no longer usable in the small-current application (StepS27).

Likewise, the secondary battery module is first used in a large-capacityapplication (Step S31). When the secondary battery module is no longerusable in the large-capacity application, the module is then used in amedium-capacity application (Step S33). When the secondary batterymodule is no longer usable in the medium-capacity application, themodule is then used in a small-capacity application (Step S35). In thiscase, assuming that capacities C required for the applications aredefined respectively as C₁ for the large-capacity application, C₂ forthe medium-capacity application, and C₃ for the small-capacityapplication, then the capacities C satisfy a correlation of C₁>C₂>C₃.Thereafter, the secondary battery module is disposed of when the moduleis no longer usable in the small-capacity application (Step S37).

Meanwhile, in any of the steps of disposal (Steps S17, S27 and S37) inFIG. 1, the secondary battery module which can be disassembled andreconstructed is applied to processes classified into reconstruction,recycling, and final disposal of residue in accordance withpredetermined processes by recycling companies.

Although the internal resistances, the currents, and the capacities ofthe battery are cited as the thresholds for judging the life of thesecondary battery in the foregoing explanation, it is to be noted thatthe thresholds are not limited only to these factors. One or morethresholds may be selected from the factors, which represent thecondition of the battery, including operating time of the battery, theresistance of the battery, a resistance changing rate of the battery,the capacity of the battery, a capacity changing rate of the battery,use intensity of the battery, a voltage of the battery, and the like. Inthis case, an index expressed as R/R₀ (R: a current resistance, R₀: aninitial resistance) is used as the resistance changing rate of thebattery, for example. Meanwhile, an index expressed as Q/Q₀ (Q: acurrent capacity, Q₀: an initial capacity) is used as the capacitychanging rate of the battery, for example. Moreover, an index expressedas Q_(c)/t (Q_(c): an integrated capacity used in charging anddischarging, t: the operating time of the battery), for example. Inaddition, the number of times of reuse is not limited to twice. Thenumber of times of reuse may be once or more than twice. Furthermore, atthe final round of reuse, the battery may be used as a primary batteryinstead of the secondary battery.

Next, an aspect of secondary battery reuse logistics will be describedby use of FIGS. 2 and 3. Here, FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of anaspect of secondary battery reuse logistics according to the embodimentof the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a view showing a configurationexample of a secondary battery system in the case of applying thepresent invention to a system product such as an automobile.

In FIG. 2, a battery manufacturer P1 firstly manufactures cells and asecondary battery module (also referred to as an assembled battery) inwhich a plurality of the cells are combined. The cell or the secondarybattery module thus manufactured is sold to a system manufacturer P2such as an automobile manufacturer, for example.

The system manufacturer P2 constructs a secondary battery system byadding a battery controller to the purchased cells or secondary batterymodules, and installs the secondary battery system into a system productsuch as an automobile, for example. In this case, the batterymanufacturer P1 may manufacture the secondary battery system by addingthe battery controller, and sell the secondary battery system to thesystem manufacturer.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the secondary battery system, for example, asecondary battery system 7 applicable to an automobile is formed byconnecting two secondary battery modules 1 in series, and by furtherincorporating a battery controller 2 for controlling these secondarybattery modules 1. Then, the secondary battery system 7 installed in thesystem product such as the automobile is controlled by a controller suchas a vehicle controller 6 for controlling the entire system whenappropriate.

Next, the system product incorporating the secondary battery system 7 issold to an end user P3. The end user P3 uses the secondary batterysystem 7 while repeating charging and discharging in the course ofoperating the system. The battery controller 2 appropriately monitorsthe predetermined required thresholds for the electrical characteristicsand the like, and notifies the system controller such as the vehiclecontroller 6 of a necessity of battery replacement before any valuessuch as the electrical characteristics attain the required thresholds.The end user P3 learns the necessity of battery replacement by means ofthe notification by the system controller, such as an indicator displayon a dashboard, and the end user P3 thus requests a battery maintenanceservice agency P4 to perform recovery and replacement of the secondarybattery system 7.

Upon request by the end user P3, the battery maintenance service agencyP4 recovers and replaces the secondary battery system 7. Moreover, thebattery maintenance service agency P4 judges the battery condition andupdating battery control characteristic information for optimization bymaintenance and repair as appropriate or upon a request from anautomobile repair and maintenance shop or the like.

Next, the battery maintenance service agency P4 disassembles therecovered secondary battery system 7 into the secondary battery modules1, and separates the disassembled secondary battery modules 1 for reuse.The separation is conducted based on the thresholds of the secondarybattery modules 1, such as the electrical characteristics. At this time,in this embodiment, the secondary battery module 1 includes storagemeans for storing information on the electrical characteristics or usagehistory of the secondary battery module 1 and reading means for readingthe information out, which will be described later with reference toFIG. 4 and so forth. Accordingly, the battery maintenance service agencyP4 can separate the secondary battery modules 1 easily by reading theinformation on the electrical characteristics or the usage historythereof.

At this time, the information on the electrical characteristics and theusage history includes multiple pieces of information selected out ofanomaly flag information on overcharge, overdischarge, overcurrent orthe like, a maximum operating voltage, a minimum operating voltage, avoltage range where the battery is operated, the operating time of thebattery, the present resistance value of the battery, the capacity, theresistance changing rate, the capacity changing rate, a maximumoperating temperature, a minimum operating temperature, integratedcurrent usage, the use intensity V_(int) of the battery, and the like.Here, assuming that the integrated current usage is ΣI, that theoperating time is t, and that an average used voltage is V_(av), thenthe use intensity V_(int) of the battery is given by the followingformula:V _(int)=(ΣI)/t or V _(int)=(ΣI)/V _(av)

The battery maintenance service agency P4 reads the information on theelectrical characteristics or the usage history of the secondary batterymodule 1, which is stored in the storage means of the secondary batterymodule 1. The battery maintenance service agency P4 then compares theinformation with thresholds for other applications, which are preparedin advance (P41). That is, it is possible to separate or grade the usedsecondary battery module 1 by use of the thresholds for otherapplications. The secondary battery module 1 judged as reusable by theseparation or grading is delivered to the battery manufacturer P1.Subsequently, the battery manufacturer P1 resells the deliveredsecondary battery module 1 to the system manufacturer P2 as appropriatedepending on classifications as a result of the separation or on thegrade.

Meanwhile, the secondary battery module 1 which is judged as notsuitable for a recharging application in the module as a result of theseparation or grading is discharged as a primary battery application,and is further disassembled into the cell level (P5). Then, thedisassembled cells are discharged either as a secondary batteryapplication or a primary battery application, and are then delivered toa waste disposer P6. The waste disposer P6 crushes and separates thedelivered used cells and dispose of the waste separately as recyclablematerials and waste residue.

(Configuration of Secondary Battery System)

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a configuration of the secondarybattery system according to the embodiment of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 3 already, the secondary battery system 7 includes thesecondary battery modules 1 and the batter controller 2. FIG. 4 showsthe configuration in which the single secondary battery module 1 isconnected to the single battery controller 2 in series. However, it isalso possible to adopt a configuration in which multiple secondarybattery modules 1 are connected to the single battery controller 2 inparallel.

As shown in FIG. 4, the secondary battery module 1 includes an assembledbattery unit 11, battery electrode terminals 12 and 13, a sensor 14, abattery information storage unit 17, a battery information read/write(R/W) control unit 16, a battery information R/W terminal 15. Theassembled battery unit 11 is configured by connecting multiple cellstogether in series, in parallel or in series-parallel. The batteryelectrode terminals 12 and 13 are connected respectively to electrodeslocated at both ends of the assembled battery unit 11. The sensor 14includes a temperature sensor or the like. The battery informationstorage unit 17 stores the information on the electrical characteristicsor the usage history of a battery of the secondary battery module. Thebattery information read/write (R/W) control unit 16 controls readingand writing of the information stored in the battery information storageunit 17. The battery information R/W terminal 15 connects the batteryinformation R/W control unit 16 to the battery controller 2.

Here, the battery information storage unit 17 is typically formed of anonvolatile semiconductor memory such as a flash memory, and retains thestored information even in a case where no power voltage is suppliedthereto. Meanwhile, the battery information R/W control unit 16 includesa memory control circuit (not shown) and a communications interfacecircuit (not shown). The memory control circuit is configured to controlreading and writing the information from and into the batteryinformation storage unit 17. The communications interface circuit isconfigured to communicate with the battery controller 2 through thebattery information R/W terminal 15. The communications interfacecircuit in this case may include a serial communications interfacecircuit such as RS-232C, Local Interconnect Network (LIN) or UniversalSerial Bus (USB).

Here, the battery information to be stored in the battery informationstorage unit 17 may include: an initial capacity; an initial resistance;a chargeable and dischargeable current values; a power value; a voltagerange where the battery is to be operated; present values of capacity,of resistance, of resistance changing rate, and of capacity changingrate; the history information on the current values when discharge orrecharge has taken place, on the voltage range where the battery hasbeen operated, and on the operating time of the battery; the anomalyflag information on overcharge, overdischarge and so forth; the useintensity of the battery; and the like.

Meanwhile, the battery controller 2 includes a battery control unit 21,a sensor measurement unit 22, a host system communications unit 23 and abattery module communications unit 24. The battery control unit 21controls the operations of the battery. The sensor measurement unit 22is connected to the sensor 14, the battery electrode terminals 12 and13, and the like for measuring signal levels thereof. The host systemcommunications unit 23 transmits and receives information to and from acontroller of a host system to which the secondary battery system 7 isapplied. The battery module communications unit 24 transmits andreceives the information to and from the battery information storageunit 17 of the secondary battery module 1.

Here, the battery control unit 21 includes a processor 211 formed ofwhat is termed as a central processing unit (CPU) or the like, and amemory 212. The memory 212 stores programs including a battery controlprogram for controlling the battery and a host system communicationscontrol program for controlling the communications with the host system.The memory 212 is also used as a work area to be used when theseprograms are executed.

Meanwhile, the battery module communications unit 24 includes aninterface circuit corresponding to the communications interface circuitof the battery information R/W control unit 16. The interface circuitmay be formed of, for example, the serial communications interfacecircuit such as RS-232C, LIN or USB. Similarly, the host systemcommunications unit 23 may also be formed of the serial communicationsinterface circuit such as RS-232C, LIN or USB. In a case where the hostsystem such as the vehicle controller 6 is connected to multiplesubordinate systems, a local area network (LAN) is used as acommunications line for connecting those systems to one another. In thiscase, the host system communications unit 23 includes a networkinterface circuit for controlling a protocol such as Controller AreaNetwork (CAN) or Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol(TCP/IP). Meanwhile, the sensor measurement unit 22 measures an outputsignal from the sensor 14, a voltage and an output current between thebattery electrode terminals 12 and 13, and the like, and the sensormeasurement unit 22 inputs digital information obtained byanalog-digital (A/D) conversion to the battery control unit 21.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an outline of operations of the batterycontroller in the form of a processing flow. As shown in FIG. 5, whenpower is turned on (Step S41), the battery controller 2 read the batteryinformation stored in the battery information storage unit 17 of thesecondary battery module 1, namely, the information on the electricalcharacteristics or the usage history of the secondary battery module 1(Step S42). Specifically, the battery controller 2 instructs the batteryinformation R/W control unit 16 of the secondary battery module 1 toread the battery information. In response to the instruction, thebattery information R/W control unit 16 reads the battery informationstored in the battery information storage unit 17 (Step S51) and outputsthe information to the battery controller 2. The battery controller 2reads the outputted battery information.

Thereafter, the battery controller 2 executes predetermined batterycontrol on the secondary battery module 1 by using the batteryinformation (Step S43). The battery information is changed as a resultof using and controlling the secondary battery module 1. The batterycontroller 2, then, writes the battery information into the batteryinformation storage unit 17 of the secondary battery module 1 atpredetermined time intervals such as every one hour and immediatelybefore turning the power off (Step S44). Specifically, the batteryinformation R/W control unit 16 receives the battery information to bewritten from the battery controller 2, and writes the received batteryinformation into the battery information storage unit 17 (Step S52).

Meanwhile, the battery controller 2 predicts remaining life of thesecondary battery module 1 at predetermined time intervals orimmediately before turning the power off in accordance with a prescribedprediction algorithm. In a case where the remaining life becomes equalto or below a predetermined value (Yes in Step S45), the batterycontroller 2 notifies the host system of a necessity of batteryreplacement (Step S46). Here, the notification is usually transmitted tothe host system in the form of information such as a status flag. Inaddition, it is also possible to provide a mounting board (not shown) orthe like of the battery controller 2 with a light emitting diode fordisplaying the necessity of battery replacement.

Upon recognition of the necessity of battery replacement, the hostsystem, for example, the vehicle controller 6 displays an advance noticeof battery exhaustion on an indicator and the like of a dashboard, forexample, to notify a driver of the vehicle (the end user P3) of thenecessity to replace the secondary battery module 1, that is, thesecondary battery system 7. In this way, the end user P3 who hasrecognized the necessity to replace the secondary battery system 7requests the battery maintenance service agency P4 for the replacement.

As described above, in this embodiment, the battery information storageunit 17 of the secondary battery module 1 always stores the newestinformation on the electrical characteristics and the usage history ofthe secondary battery module 1. In addition, the battery informationstorage unit 17 is formed of the nonvolatile memory as describedpreviously. For this reason, the battery information stored in thebattery information storage unit 17 does not disappear even when thepower supply is stopped. Accordingly, even when the secondary batterysystem 7 recovered by the battery maintenance service agency P4 isdisassembled into the battery controller 2 and the secondary batterymodule 1 for reuse, the secondary battery module 1 retains its ownbattery information in the battery information storage unit 17. In thisway, the information on the electrical characteristics and the usagehistory of the secondary battery module 1 is obtained, and it istherefore possible to easily find out a destination for reuse, that is,for a new application.

Meanwhile, in the case of the secondary battery system 7 including themultiple secondary battery modules 1 and the battery controller 2, theinformation on the electrical characteristics of the respectivesecondary battery modules 1 are conventionally stored collectively inthe memory 212 of the battery controller 2. Accordingly, in a case whereone of the multiple secondary battery modules 1 causes a failure such asan internal short-circuit or a voltage imbalance, all the multiplesecondary battery modules 1 included in the secondary battery system 7need to be replaced. On the contrary, in this embodiment, each of thesecondary battery modules 1 retains its own information on theelectrical characteristics and the usage history in the correspondingbattery information storage unit 17. Accordingly, it is possible toeasily find out which secondary battery module 1 has such a failure byreferring to the information on the electrical characteristics thereof.It is, therefore, possible to replace only the secondary battery module1 having the failure while continuing to use other secondary batterymodules 1 without failures.

Here, suitable applications of the secondary battery system 7 includemovable bodies such as an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, atrolleyless electric train, an electric locomotive, a hybrid train, apower source for construction machinery, a golf cart, an electricbicycle, an electric motorbike or an electric wheel chair. Furthermore,the suitable application also include secondary battery applications forstationary use, such as a power absorption-regeneration device, a powersystem for power leveling, a stationary backup power source, a powersource for a cellular telephone base station, a redundant power sourcefor a car braking system, a backup power source for a fuel cell system,a power storage system, an emergency power supply, an emergency lamp ora power storage equipment for a power generation system, and otherapplications as primary power sources.

Among these suitable applications, a larger system uses more secondarybattery modules 1 that are connected in series, in parallel or inseries-parallel. Accordingly, when this embodiment is applied to such alarge-scale system, it is possible to drastically reduce the cases wherethe secondary battery modules 1 are wasted by unnecessary replacement ordisposal. Moreover, it is possible to easily find out new applications.It is thus possible to more efficiently utilize the secondary batterymodules 1. As a result, dramatic effects are expected in light ofreduction in sales prices of the secondary battery modules 1 as well asreduction in amounts of waste disposal.

(Battery Information Management System)

Now, a battery information management system according to thisembodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 6 to FIG. 8. Here,FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of an overall configuration of abattery information management system according to the embodiment of thepresent invention, FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of configurationsof a battery information management device and a terminal device in thebattery information management system, and FIG. 8 is a view showing anexample of a process flow at the time of processing a recoveredsecondary battery module in the battery information management system.

As shown in FIG. 6, a battery information management system 8 includes abattery information management device 3 and multiple terminal devices 4.The battery information management device 3 is installed in the batterymaintenance service agency P4 and the multiple terminal devices 4 areprovided to a battery manufacturer P1 and a system manufacturer P2. Thebattery information management device 3 and the multiple terminaldevices 4 are all connected to one another through a communicationsnetwork 5. The battery information management device 3 includes abattery information database (DB) 32 and the battery informationconcerning the secondary battery modules 1 either in use or afterrecovery is accumulated in the battery information DB 32. Meanwhile,concerning the secondary battery modules 1 after recovery, the batteryinformation DB 32 further accumulates grading information sorted forreuse, for example.

Incidentally, the secondary battery modules 1 manufactured by thebattery manufacturer P1 are caused to undergo measurement of the batteryinformation such as the information on the electrical characteristics,at the time of shipping inspection thereof, for example. Then, themeasured battery information is written into the battery informationstorage unit 17 as initial values by use of the terminal device 4, andis also transmitted to the battery information management device 3. Thebattery information management device 3 accumulates the received batteryinformation in the battery information DB 32 while associating thebattery information with identification information on the secondarybattery module 1.

Meanwhile, the secondary battery module 1 currently used by the end userP3 is connected to the terminal device 4 in the event of repair ormaintenance at a maintenance shop of the system manufacturer P2, forexample. Then, the battery information written in the batteryinformation storage unit 17 of the secondary battery module 1 is readout, and is modified for updating when necessary. Then, the batteryinformation is written again into the battery information storage unit17. The battery information is also transmitted to the batteryinformation management device 3, and is accumulated in the batteryinformation DB 32.

Meanwhile, the battery maintenance service agency P4 reads out thebattery information stored in the battery information storage units 17of the recovered secondary battery modules 1, and grades the secondarybattery modules 1 based on the battery information thus read out.Thereafter, the secondary battery modules 1 are separated into reusablemodules and non-reusable modules. Concerning the reusable modules, thebattery information in the battery information storage unit 17 thereofis updated as appropriate, and the updated battery information and thegrading information are accumulated in the battery information DB 32.

As described above, in the battery information management system 8, thebattery information DB 32 is not merely configured to accumulate theinformation. Rather, the accumulated information is accessible not onlyfrom the battery information management device 3 at the batterymaintenance service agency P4 but also from the terminal devices 4 atthe battery manufacture P1 as well as the terminal devices 4 at thesystem manufacturer P2. For this reason, it is possible to manage thebattery information and the grading information of the respectivesecondary battery modules 1 in a lump. Accordingly, it is easy toexecute the updating of battery control information and the likeregarding the secondary battery modules 1 in use. In addition, it ispossible to smoothly reuse the recovered secondary battery modules 1.

Next, the configurations of the battery information management device 3and the terminal device 4 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. Asshown in FIG. 7, the battery information management device 3 is what istermed as a server device including the battery information DB 32. Theprincipal part thereof is formed of an information processing unit 31that includes a CPU and a memory. In addition to the informationprocessing unit 31, the battery information management device 3 includesa battery module communications unit 33, a communications interface unit34 and a display device 35. The battery module communications unit 33writes or reads the information into and out of the battery informationstorage unit 17 of the secondary battery module 1. The communicationsinterface unit 34 is connected to the communications network 5, and thedisplay device 35 displays a result of processing by the informationprocessing unit 31, and the like.

Here, the battery module communications unit 33 is connected to thebattery information R/W terminal 15 of the secondary battery module 1.For this reason, the battery module communications unit 33 is formed ofa serial communications interface circuit such as RS-232C, LIN or USB soas to correspond to the communications interface circuit of the batteryinformation R/W control unit 16. In addition, the communicationsinterface unit 34 is connected to the communications network 5 throughwhich communications are made by use of the protocol such as CAN orTCP/IP, and is therefore formed of a network interface circuit forcontrolling the protocol such as CAN or TCP/IP.

Moreover, the terminal device 4 includes an information processing unit41 formed of a CPU and a memory, a battery module communications unit 42for writing and reading the information into and out of the batteryinformation storage unit 17 of the secondary battery module 1, and acommunications interface unit 43 connected to the communications network5. In this case, the information processing unit 41 is formed of what istermed as a personal computer, for example. Additionally, the battermodule communications unit 42 and the communications interface unit 43have similar configurations and functions to those of the battery modulecommunications unit 33 and the communications interface unit 34 of thebattery information management device 3, respectively.

Incidentally, in FIG. 7, a configuration in which the batteryinformation management device 3 does not include the battery modulecommunications unit 33 is also acceptable. In this case, however, theterminal device 4 is supposed to be provided to the battery maintenanceservice agency P4 where the battery information management device 3 isinstalled. Accordingly, the battery information management device 3 isconfigured to read and write the battery information stored in thebattery information storage unit 17 of the secondary battery module 1through the terminal device 4.

Next, an example of a processing flow to be executed by the batteryinformation management device 3 in the case of processing the recoveredsecondary battery module 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 8.First, the battery information management device 3 reads the batteryinformation stored in the battery information storage unit 17 of thesecondary battery module 1 (Step S61). Specifically, the batteryinformation management device 3 instructs the battery information R/Wcontrol unit 16 of the secondary battery module 1 to read the batteryinformation. In response, the battery information R/W control unit 16reads the battery information stored in the battery information storageunit 17 (Step S71), and outputs the battery information to the batteryinformation management device 3. The battery information managementdevice 3 reads the outputted battery information.

Subsequently, the battery information management device 3 makes ajudgment on to which threshold among the thresholds requiredrespectively by reuse target systems the electric characteristics of thesecondary battery module 1 conform, based on the acquired batteryinformation (Step S62). The battery information management device 3 thengrades the module for reuse (Step S63). In a case where there is asuitable reuse target and the module is therefore judged as reusable(Yes in Step S64), the battery control information included in thebattery information of the secondary battery module 1 is updated (StepS65). Specifically, the secondary battery module 1 receives the updatedbattery information from the battery information management device 3,and then writes the received battery information into the batteryinformation storage unit 17 (Step S72).

Simultaneously, the grading information obtained in Step S63, thebattery information updated in Step S65 and the like are registered inthe battery information DB 32 (Step S66). The grading information isthen displayed on the display device 35 or the like (Step S67). On thecontrary, in a case where the secondary battery module 1 is not reusable(No in Step S64), disposal instruction information and the likeregarding the secondary battery module 1 are displayed on the displaydevice 35 or the like (Step S68).

Incidentally, on the judgment of the thresholds in Step S62 and gradingfor reuse in Step S63, as the thresholds, used are values including atleast one out of the resistance, the capacity, the operating time of thebattery, the resistance changing rate, the capacity changing rate, theuse intensity of the battery and the like of the secondary batterymodule 1.

As described above, in this embodiment, the battery maintenance serviceagency P4 can easily perform selection of reuse or disposal of therecovered secondary battery module 1 as well as grading for reuse by useof the battery information management device 3. Moreover, the batteryinformation such as the information on the electric characteristics andthe usage history of the recovered secondary battery module 1 and thegrading information for reuse are registered in the battery informationDB 32 of the battery information management device 3. The batterymanufacturer P1 and the system manufacturer P2 can therefore makereference thereto. Accordingly, it is possible to smoothly reuse therecovered secondary battery module 1.

FIRST MODIFIED EXAMPLE OF THE EMBODIMENT

In the above-described embodiment, the battery module communicationsunit 24 of the battery controller 2 is connected to the batteryinformation R/W terminal 15 of the secondary battery module 1 by use ofwired signals as shown in FIG. 4 and the like. In a modified example ofthe embodiment, they are mutually connected by use of wireless signals.Moreover, the battery information R/W control unit 16 and the batteryinformation storage unit 17 are formed of what is termed as radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags. A storage unit of the RFID tag isgenerally formed of a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory, and istherefore suitable for the battery information storage unit 17 as well.

In this modified example of the embodiment, the battery modulecommunications unit 24 of the battery controller 2 is formed of a RFIDtag reader-writer. Similarly, the battery module communications unit 33of the battery information management device 3 and the battery modulecommunications unit 42 of the terminal device 4 are also formed of theRFID tag reader-writers.

As described above, implementation of the battery information R/Wcontrol unit 16 and the battery information storage unit 17 by use ofthe RFID tags has an advantage that it is possible to embody the presentinvention with very little modification of a case or a housing of theexisting secondary battery module 1. In other words, although there arevarious types of RFID tags, those tags generally have small shapes, andsuch a RFID tag only needs to be simply attached to the secondarybattery module 1.

SECOND MODIFIED EXAMPLE OF THE EMBODIMENT

FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of a configuration of a secondarybattery module according to a second modified example of the embodiment.A secondary battery module 1 a in the modified example of the embodimentincludes an external connection battery information R/W control unit 16a in addition to the battery information R/W control unit 16 to beconnected to the battery controller 2. Specifically, the externalconnection battery information R/W control unit 16 a is connected to anexternal device through an external connection battery information R/Wterminal 15 a.

Here, the external device is assumed to be either the batteryinformation management device 3 or the terminal device 4. Accordingly, acommunications interface circuit of the external connection batteryinformation R/W control unit 16 a for communicating with the externaldevice may be any of an RS-232C interface, USB, LIN, and also a networkinterface for controlling a protocol such as CAN or TCP/IP as long as itis the same interface as that of the battery module communications unit33 or 42 of the battery information management device 3 or the terminaldevice 4. Accordingly, the external connection battery information R/Wcontrol unit 16 a may be the same interface as that of the batteryinformation R/W control unit 16 or may be a different interface.

As described above, the secondary battery module 1 a includes theexternal connection battery information R/W control unit 16 a. Thismakes it possible to connect the battery information management device 3or the terminal device 4 to the external connection battery informationR/W control unit 16 a without disassembling the connection between thebattery controller 2 and the secondary battery module 1 a. For thisreason, the system manufacturer P2 or the battery maintenance serviceagency P4 can judge the battery condition for a checkup or update thebattery information without detaching the battery controller 2. It istherefore possible to improve operation efficiency when judging thebattery condition and updating the battery information. Incidentally,although the above-described embodiments are explained on the assumptionthat the battery maintenance service agency P4 is an independent entity,the battery maintenance service agency P4 may be a service department ofthe battery manufacturer P1.

THIRD MODIFIED EXAMPLE OF THE EMBODIMENT

FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of a configuration of a secondarybattery module according to a third modified example of the embodiment.A secondary battery module 1 b in the modified example of the embodimentincludes a portable storage medium storage device battery informationR/W control unit 16 b in addition to the battery information R/W controlunit 16 to be connected to the battery controller 2. Here, the portablestorage medium storage device may be a flexible disk, a hard disk, acompact disk (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a USB memory, anintegrated circuit (IC) card memory, and the like. A portable storagemedium storage device herein is assumed to include mechanism drive unitsfor disk rotation, head movement and the like in the case of a disk typestorage device.

Moreover, a portable storage medium storage device battery informationR/W terminal 15 b, a read button 18, and a write button 19 are providedin association with the portable storage medium storage device batteryinformation R/W control unit 16 b. Here, the portable storage mediumstorage device battery information R/W terminal 15 b is a terminal forthe connection with the external portable storage medium storage deviceby use of wired signals and the like. Meanwhile, the read button 18 is abutton used for instructions to read the battery information stored inthe battery information storage unit 17 and to write the batteryinformation thus read out into the external portable storage mediumstorage device. On the other hand, the write button 19 is a button usedfor instructions to read the information written in the externalportable storage medium storage device and to write the information thusread out into the battery information storage unit 17.

The portable storage medium storage device battery information R/Wcontrol unit 16 b includes a portable storage medium storage devicedrive unit (which is not shown and represents a logical drive unit inthis case). The portable storage medium storage device drive unitcontrols reading or writing of the information stored in the portablestorage medium storage device. Moreover, the read button 18 and thewrite button 19 are connected to the portable storage medium storagedevice drive unit. Accordingly, operations for reading and writing thebattery information stored in the battery information storage unit 17are executed by pressing these buttons.

Specifically, the battery information stored in the battery informationstorage unit 17 is read out when the read button 18 is pressed down, andthe battery information thus read out is written into the externalportable storage medium storage device. Meanwhile, the informationwritten in the external portable storage medium storage device is readout when the write button 19 is pressed down, and the information thusread out is written into the battery information storage unit 17.

In the meantime, both of the battery information management device andthe terminal device 4 includes a drive unit for reading and writinginformation in the above-described portable storage medium storagedevice as a usual configuration. For this reason, according to thismodified example of the embodiment, it is possible to exchange theinformation between the battery information storage unit 17 of thesecondary battery module 1 and any of the battery information managementdevice 3 and the terminal device 4 by way of the portable storagemedium. Accordingly, even in a place where the battery informationmanagement device 3 and the terminal device 4 do not exist, it ispossible to collect the battery information or to update the batteryinformation by use of the portable storage medium storage device such asa USB memory.

FOURTH MODIFIED EXAMPLE OF THE EMBODIMENT

Any of the above-described examples of the embodiment do not incorporatea mechanism for protecting the battery information stored in the batteryinformation storage unit 17. This modified example of the embodiment tobe described below is an example of protecting the battery informationby use of a password will be described.

In this modified example of the embodiment, the battery information R/Wcontrol unit 16 (see FIGS. 4 and 7) is provided with a password judgingunit (not shown). In a case where the battery controller 2 or thebattery information management device 3 writes and reads the batteryinformation into and out of the battery information storage unit 17(Steps 51 and S52 in FIG. 5, or Steps S71 and S72 in FIG. 8), forexample, a reading or writing operation of the battery information isnot initiated unless a predetermined password is inputted to the batteryinformation R/W control unit 16 in advance.

Specifically, the battery information R/W control unit 16 includes anonvolatile memory and the predetermined password is stored in thenonvolatile memory. The password judging unit compares a characterstring, which is inputted prior to reading or writing the batteryinformation, with the predetermined password. As a result, the operationfor reading or writing the battery information is validated when theinputted character string is identical to the password. On the contrary,the operation for reading or writing the battery information isinvalidated when the inputted character string is different from thepassword. Here, the nonvolatile memory for storing the password may bepart of the memory in the battery information storage unit 17.

Meanwhile, the external connection battery information R/W control unit16 a shown in FIG. 9 is also provided with a similar password judgingunit (not shown) so as to protect the battery information in the batteryinformation storage unit 17 against a reading or writing operation froman external device.

Moreover, the portable storage medium storage device battery informationR/W control unit 16 b shown in FIG. 10 is also provided with a similarpassword judging unit (not shown). This makes it possible to prevent anattempt to read the battery information in the battery informationstorage unit 17 out to the portable storage medium storage device, or anattempt to write the information from the portable storage mediumstorage device into the battery information storage unit 17 withoutinputting a predetermined password. That is, even when the read button18 or the write button 19 is pressed down, the operation for writing orreading the battery information into and out of the battery informationstorage unit 17 is not initiated in a case where the predeterminedpassword is not inputted.

In general, a password is information known only to a related party anda third party usually has no way to know that information. For thisreason, according to this modified example of the embodiment, the thirdparty who does not know the password cannot read or write the batteryinformation stored in the battery information storage unit 17. In thisway, it is possible to prevent destruction or manipulation of thebattery information by a malicious third party.

FIFTH MODIFIED EXAMPLE OF THE EMBODIMENT

This modified example of the embodiment to be described below is anexample of protecting the battery information stored in the batteryinformation storage unit 17 by encoding. In this case, the batteryinformation storage unit 17 stores encoded battery information.

In this modified example of the embodiment, the battery control unit 21of the battery controller 2 includes an encoding-decoding unit (notshown) based on a prescribed encoding method. Moreover, when writing thebattery information into the battery information storage unit 17 (StepS44 in FIG. 5), the battery controller 2 encodes the battery informationto be written by use of the encoding-decoding unit in advance. Thebattery controller 2 then writes the encoded information into thebattery information storage unit 17. Meanwhile, when reading the batteryinformation out of the battery information storage unit 17 (Step S42 inFIG. 5), the battery controller 2 decodes the encoded batteryinformation at the time of reading by use of the encoding-decoding unitand retrieves the plain text battery information.

Meanwhile, the information processing unit 31 of the battery informationmanagement device 3 and the information processing unit 41 of theterminal device 4 (see FIG. 7) also include similar encoding-decodingunits, respectively (not shown). In a case where the battery informationmanagement device 3 or the like writes and reads the battery informationinto and out of the battery information storage unit 17 (Steps S61 andS65 in FIG. 8, and so forth), the encoding-decoding unit decodes theencoded battery information or encodes the battery information to bewritten. Naturally, the same encoding method and the same encoding keyas those used in the encoding-decoding unit of the battery controller 2must be employed in the encoding-decoding units included respectively inthe information processing units 31 and 41 respectively of the batteryinformation management device 3 and the terminal device 4.

As described above, according to the modified example of the embodiment,parties other than the related party cannot decode the batteryinformation stored in the battery information storage unit 17.Accordingly, it is possible to avoid leakage of technical information toa third party, which may be contained in the battery information.

SIXTH MODIFIED EXAMPLE OF THE EMBODIMENT

FIG. 11 is a view showing an example of an overall configuration of abattery information management system according to a sixth modifiedexample of the embodiment of the present invention. The configuration inFIG. 11 is different from that in FIG. 6 in the following points. Thesecondary battery system 7 currently used by the end user P3 such as avehicle is connected to a navigation device 61 or the like included in ahost system of the secondary battery system 7 or a part of the hostsystem. Additionally, the secondary battery system 7 is furtherconnected to the communications network 5 through a base station 51 ofcellular telephones or the like, which can communicate with thenavigation device 61. That is, the secondary battery system 7 in use isconnected to the battery information management device 3 through thecommunications network 5.

In this modified example of the embodiment, the battery controller 2transmits the battery information stored in the battery informationstorage unit 17 to the host system thereof such as the navigation device61. This transmission is performed when writing new battery informationinto the battery information storage unit 17 of the secondary batterymodule 1 or at predetermined time intervals, such as once in a day.Then, the navigation device 61 transmits the battery information thusreceived to the battery information management device 3 through thecommunications network 5 or the like. Thereafter, the batteryinformation management device 3 registers the received batteryinformation in the battery information DB 32 while associating thereceived battery information with the identification information of thesecondary battery module 1.

Accordingly, the battery information management device 3 can acquire andconstantly monitor the battery information on the secondary batterymodule 1 in use anytime without a limitation to an occasion ofmaintenance or repair of the host system. Moreover, the batteryinformation management device 3 can also modify the battery informationstored in the battery information storage unit 17 of the secondarybattery module 1 through the communications network 5, the navigationdevice 61, and the like. Accordingly, the battery information managementdevice 3 is able to predict the remaining life of the secondary batterymodule 1 in use at any time, and to update the battery information to bestored in the battery information storage unit 17 to the newest versionat the earliest convenience.

As described above, according to the modified example of the embodiment,the battery information management device 3 is able to acquire thenewest battery information stored in the battery information storageunit 17 of the secondary battery module 1. The battery informationmanagement device 3 is also able to update the battery information withadding the newest battery control information and the like thereto.Accordingly, this makes it possible to operate the secondary batterymodule 1 efficiently at any time.

CONCRETE EXAMPLES OF THE EMBODIMENT

Now, concrete examples of a secondary battery in which the secondarybattery module 1, the secondary battery system 7, the batteryinformation management device 3 and the battery information managementsystem 8 according to the above-described embodiment are utilized, andmoreover, a reuse system, a sales method, and the like for the secondarybattery will be described below in detail.

First Example of an Aspect of the Embodiment

The secondary battery system 7 in which a lithium-ion secondary batteryis used and a reuse example thereof will be described with reference toFIGS. 3 and 4. The secondary battery system 7 includes the secondarybattery module 1 formed by connecting multiple cells in series-parallel.Specifically, in this example, the secondary battery module 1 has abattery voltage of 173 [V] and a capacity Ca [Ah], which is formed byconnecting 48 cells in series, each of which has an average voltage of3.6 [V] and a capacity Ca [Ah]. This secondary battery system 7 is usedby a host system such as the vehicle controller 6. Note that the codesin the brackets [] represent units.

In this example, the battery information such as the information on theelectrical characteristics or the usage history of the secondary batterymodule 1 is stored in the battery information storage unit 17 providedon a housing of the secondary battery module 1. Here, the batteryinformation storage unit 17 is provided inside or outside the housing ofthe secondary battery module 1, or is divided into two portions to beseparately provided inside and outside the housing. The batteryinformation storage unit 17 includes a rewritable memory. The batteryinformation storage unit 17 thus can be rewritten by means ofcommunications from outside through the battery information R/W controlunit 16. Moreover, the battery controller 2 of the secondary batterysystem 7 in this example is configured to detect the state of thebattery based on battery characteristics of the secondary battery module1 as well as information detected by current, voltage, and temperaturesensors, and to communicate the information with the host system such asthe vehicle controller 6.

Considering the case of applying this battery to a hybrid electricvehicle having a motor output of 35 [kW], the secondary battery system 7will have the configuration as shown in FIG. 3. Specifically, thesecondary battery system 7 is configured by serially connecting the twosecondary battery modules 1 a and 1 b each having the battery voltage of173 [V] to each other, and by further connecting the battery controller2 thereto. Moreover, the secondary battery system 7 is connected to thevehicle controller 6 of the hybrid electric vehicle.

In the above-described secondary battery system 7, the batterycontroller 2 conventionally stores the electrical characteristic data ofthese secondary battery modules 1. For this reason, in a case where afailure occurred in the secondary battery module 1 a during operationand the secondary battery module 1 a needs replacement, it is necessaryto replace the secondary battery module 1 b at the same to alignelectrical characteristic data between the two secondary batterymodules. That is, in this case, an internal resistance R of thesecondary battery module 1 b is greater than an initial internalresistance R₀ thereof, but is smaller than a threshold resistance valueR_(L1) which causes a system failure (R₀<R<R_(L1)). In other words, themodule 1 b is still usable as the battery. However, the secondarybattery module 1 b becomes subject to disposal in spite of the abovefact.

On the contrary, in the case of this example, the characteristic data ofthe battery accompany the corresponding battery. Therefore, it ispossible to use the secondary battery module 1 b for another systemhaving a different standard. Alternatively, it is possible to continueto use the secondary battery module 1 b while replacing only thesecondary battery module 1 a.

Meanwhile, in a case where the secondary battery module 1 b is detachedand applied to another system such as an uninterruptible power supplyhaving an internal resistance R′ as the threshold for functioning thesystem, the secondary battery module 1 b is applicable to theuninterruptible power supply if the internal resistance R of thedetached battery 1 b is smaller than the internal resistance R′. In thiscase, a current value I′ used by the uninterruptible power supply isaround 1 CA, and a current value I0 used by the hybrid electric vehicleis greater than the current value I′. Accordingly, the system functionssufficiently with a smaller current.

For the uninterruptible power supply, a lead-acid battery is generallyutilized. An emergency power supply is preserved in a fully chargedstate and is discharged in the event of emergency. In this case, thelead-acid battery is apt to generate heat as a result of charging andcauses side reactions such as decomposition of an electrolyte. Moreover,the lead-acid battery has a large self-discharge factor and may causesubstantial degradation of the capacity as a result of constant andrepetitive charging. As a consequence, the lead-acid battery tends to beunusable after a period of approximately one to three years.

On the contrary, in a case where using the lithium-ion battery is usedfor the uninterruptible power supply, the lithium-ion battery has littleself-discharge factor and no memory effect of decreasing the capacity asa result of repeating shallow charge and discharge. The lithium-ionbattery also has a long cycle life and a long storage life, and isusable over a period of approximately five to ten years. In addition,the lithium-ion battery has a high cell voltage and is also lightweight.Accordingly, it is possible to realize an emergency power system that iseasier to use than the conventional lead-acid battery systems. Moreover,in the case of a system that requires a large capacity, it is possibleto meet system requirements by using multiple cells or secondary batterymodules 1 connected in parallel. Furthermore, the existing emergencypower system designed for the lead-acid battery application isapplicable to the case of using the lithium-ion battery only bymodifying the design of input and output sections for the battery.Therefore, it is possible to construct a system having the sameperformance as that of the lead-acid battery system substantially at thesame price while reducing development costs. In this way, it is possibleto realize the reliable system with a long battery life.

Second Example of an Aspect of the Embodiment

Next, a lithium-ion secondary battery having an average voltage of 173[V] and a capacity of Ca [Ah] to be applied to a hybrid automobilesystem having a motor output of 35 [kW] and a reuse example thereof willbe described with reference to FIG. 11.

First, the threshold for the operating range of the secondary batterymodule 1 is set to the battery information storage unit 17.Specifically, the secondary battery module 1 incorporates the batteryinformation storage unit 17, and the electrical characteristic data andthe usage history thereof are written in the rewritable memory includedin the battery information storage unit 17. In this example, aresistance value R₁, for instance, is written in the memory as thethreshold for making the secondary battery module 1 usable. Then, thebattery controller 2 notifies the host system such as the navigationdevice 61 of attainment of the threshold at the point when theresistance value R₀ of the secondary battery module 1 attains R₁ [mΩ](R₁>R0).

The navigation device 61 transmits this threshold attainment informationto the battery information management device 3 installed at themaintenance service agency P4 through the communications network 5 orthe like. The battery information management device 3 having receivedthe information registers that fact in the battery information DB 32 andnotifies a maintenance operator of that fact. Based on the information,the operator of the maintenance service agency P4 recovers and replacesthe secondary battery system 7. Incidentally, in a case where thenavigation device 61 served as the host system does not have acommunicating function and is not connected to the communicationsnetwork 5, a driver of a vehicle or the like may notify the maintenanceservice agency P4 through a telephone or the like, when he or shenotices the attainment of the threshold of the secondary battery module1 by way of a display device of the navigation device 61.

The battery information including the threshold information, the usagehistory, presence or absence of anomaly data, and the like is stored inthe battery information storage unit 17 of the recovered secondarybattery module 1. The battery information management device 3 then readsthese pieces of the battery information stored in the batteryinformation storage unit 17 through the battery module communicationsunit 33 (see FIG. 7), and confirms the usage history and the like.Thereafter, in a case where the characteristic data or the like needcorrection, all or part of the characteristic data are rewritten.

In this way, the secondary battery module 1 after rewriting thecharacteristic data or the like is used within a range of the internalresistance R satisfying R₁<R<R_(L) [mΩ]. For example, the secondarybattery module 1 is shipped for an application to a system having amotor output of 25 [kW]. Here, the code R_(L) represents a thresholdindicating a limit for the battery to function the system required inthe battery. Note that, in the case of the 25 [kW] system as well, thesecondary battery module 1 is replaced at the point when the resistancevalue R attains the threshold R_(L) as similar to the application to the35 [kW] system. Alternatively, the secondary battery module 1 may bedetached as a result of judgment that the module comes to an end of itslife.

When the detached secondary battery module 1 has a capacity of C′ [Ah]and a resistance R″ [mΩ], this secondary battery module 1 is mounted ona light car as a hybrid power system, the light car functioning at aninternal resistance in a range of R1<R″<R_(L) and having a tare of 600[kg] and a motor output of 5 [kW]. If this power system is constructedby use of a lead-acid battery, the power system weighs about 45 [kg]. Onthe contrary, when this power system is constructed by use of thelithium-ion secondary battery, the weight is reduced to 20 kg.Accordingly, the tare of the vehicle is also reduced as a whole, and thefuel efficiency thereof is also improved.

Third Example of an Aspect of the Embodiment

Next, an example of reusing a train power supply system to be applied toa hybrid system with a diesel engine will be described.

This train power system is required to have an output which is at leastseveral tens of times greater than that of a small automobile.Accordingly, the secondary battery system 7 is constructed by connectinglithium-ion secondary batteries in x series and y parallel (x and y arepositive integers) to achieve an average voltage of V₁ [V] and acapacity of C₀ [Ah]. Here, the resistance value R_(L1) is preset as thesystem threshold to the secondary battery modules 1 of the secondarybattery system 7. In using the secondary battery system 7, the batterycontroller 2 issues a warning for battery replacement to a host systemwhen the resistance of the secondary battery module 1 attains theresistance value R_(L1) defined as the threshold. In response to this,the secondary battery modules 1 are unloaded.

The unloaded secondary battery module 1 exerts a significant voltagedrop due to an increase in the internal resistance attributable todeterioration, and is not possible to provide a sufficient outputcurrent for the train power supply system. However, the secondarybattery module 1 is still applicable to a system having loose conditionsof a resistance value R_(r) and a current I_(r) as thresholds necessaryfor functioning the system, i.e. the system in which a current I_(t)that the unloaded secondary. battery module 1 can output is greater thanthe required current I_(r) (I_(r)<I_(t)). Accordingly, data includingthe resistance value R_(L1) and a rate of increase in the resistance areread out of the history information of the secondary battery module 1.The resistance value R_(r) as a threshold for the new application systemand other factors are then determined based on these values thus readout. Accordingly, the secondary battery module 1 is applied to abattery, for example, in battery equipment for a cellular telephone basestation, which satisfies R_(L1)<R_(r).

In this way, the unloaded secondary battery module 1 is used as thebattery in the battery equipment for the cellular telephone basestation. This makes it possible to extend a usable period of the sameequipment as compared a usable period to conventional lead-acid batteryequipment. Moreover, it is possible to reduce weight of the batterynecessary for covering required electric power. As a result, it iseasier to install the cellular telephone base station on a roof of abuilding in a city, for example, and thereby to achieve weight reductionand space saving for the equipment.

Fourth Example of an Aspect of the Embodiment

Next, an example of reusing a battery type regenerated power absorberhaving an average voltage of V₁ [V], a capacity of C₀ [Ah], and anoutput of B [kW], which is constructed by connecting lithium-ionsecondary batteries in x1 series and y1 parallel (x1 and y1 are positiveintegers) will be described.

The battery controller 2 issues a warning for battery replacement to ahost system or the like when the resistance value of the secondarybattery module 1 attains a preset resistance value R_(LS1) defined asthe threshold. In response to this, the secondary battery modules 1 areunloaded. Each unloaded secondary battery module 1 preserves a state ofhealth (SOH) at the point of unloading, which includes characteristicdata, usage history data, and the like of the secondary battery module1.

Accordingly, based on the information, the unloaded secondary batterymodules 1 are connected in x2 series (x2 is a positive integer), and areapplied to a 35 [kW] hybrid vehicle system. Thereafter, when thesecondary battery modules 1 are used in the hybrid vehicle system andthe resistance values thereof attain a predetermined threshold R_(LS2),the secondary battery modules 1 are applied to confirmation of thebattery performances, and are then applied to a system having athreshold resistance value of R_(LS3) (R_(LS2)<R_(LS3)), such as ahybrid system for a light car having a motor output of 5 [kW].

Moreover, when the resistance values of the secondary battery modules 1attain the threshold R_(LS3) in this hybrid system for the light car,each secondary battery module 1 is disassembled into cells. It should benoted that the battery manufacturer P1 or the battery maintenanceservice agency P4 reads the characteristic data such as the resistanceor the capacity as well as the history information stored in the batteryinformation storage units 17 of the secondary battery modules 1 prior todisassembling the secondary battery modules 1. Then, the batterymanufacturer P1 or the battery maintenance service agency P4 stores theinformation in the battery information DB 32 of the battery informationmanagement device 3, for example. Moreover, the characteristic data,such as a voltage of V₁/n [V] and a capacity of C′ [mAh], of the cellsobtained by the disassembly are calculated based on the information.Here, the code V₁ denotes a voltage of the secondary battery module 1before disassembly and the code n represents the number of series of thecells.

Next, several pieces of the cells obtained by the disassembly asdescribed above are reassembled to form an uninterruptible power sourcehaving a voltage range of 12 to 14 [V], for example, and theuninterruptible power source is applied to a system that functions underconditions of a capacity C_(r)<C′ and a resistance R_(r)>R_(LS3). It isalso possible to apply the reassembled cells similarly to rechargeabledevices included in an emergency lamp, a night-light, and a solar light.Moreover, the reassembled cells are applied to a system configured todischarge a current I satisfying I<I_(rs) (the code I_(rs) denotes amaximum current value when applied to the system) as a primary batteryrepresented by a power source of a flashlight. The cells are disposed ofafter entirely discharged.

When the secondary battery is utilized as described above, it ispossible to use inner energy of the battery more effectively and toreduce the voltage at the time of disposal. Accordingly, probability ofoccurrence of heat generation due to a short circuit or liquid spillageis reduced and safety is also ensured at the time of disposal. Inaddition, by establishing this reuse system, it is possible to reduceinitial investment costs of the battery and to reduce initialinstallation costs of the large-size battery on the part of a user.

Fifth Example of an Aspect of the Embodiment

Next, an example of reusing a battery type regenerated power absorberhaving an average voltage of V₃ [V] and a capacity of C₀ [F] constructedby connecting electric double layer capacitor batteries in x series andy parallel (x and y are positive integers) will be described.

The battery controller 2 issues a warning for battery replacement to ahost system when resistance value of the secondary battery module 1formed of the electric double layer capacitors attains a predeterminedthreshold resistance value R_(LS1). In response to this, the secondarybattery modules 1 are unloaded. Each unloaded secondary battery module 1stores the battery usage history and the SOH at the point of unloading,which includes the capacity, the resistance, and the like.

Therefore, based on this information, the unloaded secondary batterymodules 1 are connected in x series (x is a positive integer) andapplied to an A′ [kW] hybrid vehicle system. Moreover, the secondarybattery modules 1 of which the resistance values attain a predeterminedthreshold R_(LS2) are applied to confirmation of the batteryperformances, and are then loaded on a hybrid system of a light carhaving a motor output of B′ [kW], which functions at an internalresistance R satisfying R_(LS2)<R<R_(LS3).

When the electric double layer capacitors are utilized as describedabove, it is possible to use inner energy of the battery moreeffectively. Moreover, by establishing this reuse system, it is possibleto reduce initial investment costs of the battery and to reduce initialinstallation costs of the large-size battery on the part of a user.

Sixth Example of an Aspect of the Embodiment

Next, an example of reusing a large vehicle hybrid system having anaverage voltage of V₀ [V], a capacity of C₀ [Ah], and a motor output ofC′ [kW], constructed by connecting Ni-MH batteries in x series and yparallel (x and y are positive integers) will be described.

The battery controller 2 issues a warning for battery replacement to ahost system when the resistance value of the secondary battery module 1attains a predetermined threshold resistance value R_(LS1). In responseto this, the secondary battery module 1 is unloaded. Each unloadedsecondary battery module 1 stores the battery usage history and the SOHat the point of unloading, which includes the capacity C, the resistanceR, and the like.

Therefore, based on this information, the unloaded secondary batterymodule 1 is applied to a D′ [kW] stop-idling hybrid vehicle system whichfunctions at an internal resistance R that satisfies R_(LS1)<R<R_(LS2).Then, when the internal resistance R attains a predetermined thresholdR_(LS2), the secondary battery module 1 is applied to confirmation ofthe battery performance and is then applied to a light-car hybrid systemhaving a motor output of B′ [kW] that functions at an internalresistance R that satisfies R_(LS2)<R<R_(LS3).

Furthermore, when the secondary battery module 1 is used in this systemand the internal resistance or other factors attains the internalresistance R_(LS3) and a capacity C₁ defined as the thresholds, thesecondary battery module 1 is disassembled and judged based on thehistory data including the resistance and the capacity of the module,and is applied to a battery having a voltage of 7.2 [V] and a capacityof C₁ [Ah] (note that C₁≦C₀), for example. Meanwhile, these batteriesare appropriately reassembled and used as a battery for a 14 [V]uninterruptible power source, for example. Meanwhile, a 36 [V] powersource is formed by connecting an appropriate number of the batteries inseries-parallel, and is used as a power source for a movable body systemsuch as an electric commuter car which functions at a resistance R thatsatisfies R_(LS3)<R<R_(LS4). Meanwhile, the batteries is applied tostepping down with a DC/DC converter or the like and is used as abattery device for a 3.0 [V] emergency lamp or night-light or for a 1.2[V] solar light, for example.

Seventh Example of an Aspect of the Embodiment

Next, an example of reusing a battery type regenerated power absorberhaving an average battery voltage of V₀ [V], a capacity of C₀ [Ah], andan output of E′ [kW] constructed by connecting lithium-ion secondarybatteries in x series and y parallel (x and y are positive integers)will be described.

The battery controller 2 issues a warning for battery replacement to ahost system when the resistance value of the secondary battery module 1attains a predetermined threshold resistance value R_(LS1). In responseto this, the secondary battery module 1 is unloaded. The unloadedsecondary battery module 1 stores the battery usage history and the SOHat the point of unloading, the SOH including the capacity C, theresistance R, and the like. Accordingly, based on this information, theunloaded secondary battery module 1 is applied to a battery (a y1parallel configuration) as an auxiliary power source for a householdfuel cell system which functions at an internal resistance R thatsatisfies R_(LS1)<R<R_(LS2).

FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of a configuration of a householdfuel cell system. As shown in FIG. 12, a household fuel cell system 200includes a fuel cell (a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, or PEFC) 202, aDC/DC voltage converter 203, a battery 201, a DC/AC voltage converter204 and a hot-water tank. The battery 201 is configured to absorbredundant power. In the DC/AC voltage converter 204, an inverter or thelike is utilized. For the hot-water tank, waste heat is utilized. Acurrent generated by the fuel cell 202 is converted into an alternatingvoltage for household use by use of the DC/AC voltage converter 204, andis supplied as household electric power.

The battery 201 absorbs and charges a redundant current out of thecurrent outputted from the fuel cell 202 through the DC/DC converter 203when the power supplied from the fuel cell 202 is greater than the powerconsumed in a house, i.e. at the time of redundant power. Meanwhile, inthe case of power shortage, the battery 201 discharges the power and theoutput is converted into the alternating voltage for household use byuse of the DC/AC converter 204 and is supplied as the household power.

For example, in the case of the household fuel cell system 200 applyingthe fuel cell designed for a rated output voltage of V_(F) [V] and arated current of I_(F) [A], the redundant current of the fuel cell 202is raised by the DC/DC voltage converter 203 and charged in the battery201. Meanwhile, when the household power runs short, the output from thefuel cell 201 is converted into AC 100 [V] or 200 [V] by the DC/ACvoltage converter 204 and is supplied to the house.

In the above-described household fuel cell system 200, the reusedsecondary battery can be applied to the battery 201. Accordingly, it ispossible to suppress the price of the system. Moreover, in the householdfuel cell system 200, the battery 201 functioning as the auxiliary powersource can charge the redundant power. Accordingly, it is possible tosupply stable power in a period from a time when the fuel cell 202 isstarted to a time when the fuel cell 202 settles into a steady state.Furthermore, it is possible to level off an electric load on the fuelcell 202 at a peak of a household power load. Accordingly, efficiency ofthe fuel cell 202 is improved, and the energy can be thus utilized moreeffectively.

Naturally, in the battery 201 of this household fuel cell system 200,the battery controller 2 (not shown in FIG. 12) included in the battery201 issues a warning for battery replacement when the internalresistance or the capacity attains predetermined thresholds R_(LS2) andC₂. Upon receipt of the warning, the battery 201 is replaced andrecovered. The recovered battery 201 is applied to confirmation of thebattery performance based on the history information and the likeretained by the secondary battery module 1. After the confirmation ofthe battery performance, the recovered battery 201 is loaded on a hybridsystem of a light car having a motor output of B′ [kW], for example.

Furthermore, when the internal resistance or other factors of thesecondary battery module 1 attains predetermined thresholds in thislight car hybrid system, the secondary battery module 1 is disassembledinto the cells after storing the characteristic data such as theresistance and the capacity and the history data into, for example, thebattery information DB 32. Here, the cells can ensure certainperformances such as a voltage of 3.6 [V] or a capacity of C₃ [Ah].

Several pieces of the cells are reassembled and applied to a battery foran uninterruptible power source designed for 12 to 14 [V], for example.Meanwhile, it is also possible to apply the reassembled cells torechargeable devices including an emergency lamp, a night-light, and asolar light. Moreover, the reassembled cells are applied to a systemconfigured to discharge a current equal to or below 0.2 [C] as a primarybattery represented by a power source of a flashlight. The cells aredisposed of after entirely discharged.

When the secondary battery is utilized as described above, it ispossible to use inner energy of the battery more effectively to reducethe voltage at the time of disposal. Accordingly, probability ofoccurrence of heat generation or liquid spillage due to a short circuitis reduced and safety is also ensured at the time of disposal. Inaddition, by establishing this reuse system, it is possible to reduceinitial investment costs of the battery and to reduce initialinstallation costs of the large-size battery on the part of a user.

Eighth Example of an Aspect of the Embodiment

Next, an example of reusing an F′ [kW] electric vehicle batteryconstructed by connecting lithium-ion secondary batteries in x serieswill be described.

The battery controller 2 issues a warning for battery replacement to ahost system when the internal resistance or the capacity of thesecondary battery module 1 respectively attains a resistance valueR_(LS1) or a current value C_(LS1), defined as thresholds. The secondarybattery module 1 is replaced with a new product when there is thewarning for battery replacement or at the time of an initial automobileinspection in the third year at a certain automobile maintenance shop.New battery characteristic data have been written in the batteryinformation storage unit 17 of the replaced new secondary battery module1. The battery controller 2 reads the new battery characteristic dataand updates its own battery control program and the like when necessaryin response to the battery characteristic data.

On the other hand, the battery information storage unit 17 of theunloaded secondary battery module 1 stores the information on thebattery usage history in the past, and the SOH information at the pointof unloading, which includes the capacity, the resistance, and the like.Accordingly, based on this information, the unloaded secondary batterymodules 1 are reassembled into a configuration having serial andparallel connections of the predetermined number. The reassembledsecondary battery modules 1 are then used as the battery 201 for thehousehold fuel battery system 200 to be operated at several [kW], whichcan function under conditions of R_(r)<R_(LS1) or C_(r)<C_(LS1). At thistime, the DC/DC voltage converter 203 is unnecessary in a case where therated output voltage of the fuel cell 202 is equal to the voltage of thebattery. Accordingly, it is possible to charge the redundant currentwithout voltage conversion. Meanwhile, the output of the battery 201 isconverted into AC 100 [V] by the DC/AC voltage converter 204 and issupplied to the house.

In this household fuel cell system 200 as well, the battery controller 2included in the battery 201 issues a warning for battery replacementwhen the internal resistance or the capacity attains the correspondingpredetermined threshold. Accordingly, the secondary battery module 1 isreplaced when there is the warning for battery replacement, or after apredetermined period from starting the use of the module, for example,two years later.

In the above-described household fuel cell system 200, the battery 201functioning as the auxiliary power source can charge the redundantpower. Accordingly, it is possible to supply stable power even in aperiod from a time when the fuel cell 202 is started to a time when thefuel cell 202 settles into a steady state. Furthermore, since it ispossible to level off an electric load on the fuel cell 202 at a peak ofa household power load. Accordingly, efficiency of the fuel cell 202 isimproved and the energy can be utilized more effectively.

Ninth Example of an Aspect of the Embodiment

Next, an example of reusing the secondary battery module 1 by use of thebattery information management device 3 will be described. The secondarybattery module 1 targeted in this example is assumed to be a batteryhaving an average voltage of V₁ [V] and a capacity of C₁ [Ah].

The battery information storage unit 17, which stores the characteristicdata, the usage history, and the like of the battery, is placed insidethe housing of the secondary battery module 1. Moreover, a connectionslot for a portable storage medium (see FIG. 10, corresponding to theportable storage medium storage device battery information R/W terminal15 b) is provided on a surface of the housing. Here, the portablestorage medium storage device includes a magnetic or optical recordingmedium or a semiconductor nonvolatile memory, such as a flexible disk, aCD-ROM, a DVD, a Memory Stick (registered trademark), a Compact Flash(registered trademark) card or a USB memory.

The battery information such as the battery characteristic data or theusage history thereof stored in the battery information storage unit 17can be read out to the above-described portable storage medium storagedevice and can be further registered in the battery information DB 32 ofthe battery information management device 3 through the portable storagemedium storage device. Moreover, in a case where there is a change inthe application of the secondary battery module 1 at the time ofmaintenance, for example, it is possible to write the characteristicdata concerning battery control and the like temporarily into theportable storage medium storage device, and to update the informationstored in the battery information storage unit 17 by use of the portablestorage medium storage device.

As described above, it is possible to execute condition computingproperly in accordance with the characteristics of the secondary batterymodule at that point by updating the information stored in the batteryinformation storage unit 17 as appropriate. Therefore, it is possible toachieve highly accurate battery control and thus to use the batteryproperly. As a result, it is possible to improve not only reliability ofthe secondary battery system 7 but also reliability of the host systemapplying the secondary battery system 7.

Tenth Example of an Aspect of the Embodiment

Next, an example of reusing a battery type regenerated power absorberhaving an average voltage of V₁ [V], a capacity of C₁ [Ah], and outputof A [kW] constructed by connecting batteries (lithium-ion secondarybatteries or nickel-metal hydride. batteries) in x1 series and y1parallel (x1 and y1 are positive integers) will be described.

The battery controller 2 issues a warning for battery replacement to ahost system when the resistance value of the secondary battery module 1attains the resistance value R_(LS1) defined as the threshold. Inresponse to this, the secondary battery module 1 is unloaded. Theunloaded secondary battery module 1 stores the battery usage historyinformation and the SOH information such as the capacity C or theresistance R at the point of unloading. The battery informationmanagement device then acquires the SOH information and the like fromthe unloaded secondary battery modules 1, and grades the secondarybattery module 1 based on the information.

At this time, the battery information management device 3 includes anapplication system DB (not shown in FIG. 6 and the like) which stores alist of application systems for the secondary battery module 1 as wellas operating conditions, thresholds, and the like of the batteriesrequired respectively by the application systems. The batteryinformation management device 3 then makes reference to the applicationsystem DB based on the result of grading the unloaded secondary batterymodule 1, and displays candidates for the new application system for thesecondary battery module. Then, one is selected from the displayedcandidates for the new application system. For example, the secondarybattery module 1 is incorporated into a configuration in x2 series (x2is a positive integer) to be applied to a hybrid car system having amotor output of B [kW].

Subsequently, the secondary battery module 1 is detached from the hybridcar system when the internal resistance or the like thereof attains thecorresponding predetermined threshold R_(LS2), while being used in thehybrid car system. Then, the battery information management device 3reads the SOH information such as the capacity C and the resistance Rstored in the secondary battery module 1, the battery performance andthe like are confirmed. Then, the battery information management device3 again grades the secondary battery module 1. The battery informationmanagement device 3 displays candidates for the new application system,based on the result of the grading and the application system DB. Then,one is selected from the displayed candidates for the new applicationsystem. For example, the secondary battery module 1 is applied to alight car hybrid system having a motor output D [kW], for which aresistance value R_(r) necessary to function the system satisfiesR_(LS2)<R_(r)=R_(LS3).

Moreover, the secondary battery module 1 is gradually deteriorated,while being used in the light car hybrid system. Then, the secondarybattery module 1 is detached from the light car hybrid system when theinternal resistance thereof attains the threshold R_(LS3). Then, thebattery information management device 3 reads the SOH information suchas the capacity C and the resistance R stored in the secondary batterymodule 1, and displays candidates for a new application after performingsimilar information processing as described above. As a result, thesecondary battery module 1 is disassembled into cells.

At this time, the voltage of the cells is equal to (V₁/n) [V] (n: thenumber of series) and the capacity thereof is equal to C₂ [Ah] (notethat C₂<C₁). Several pieces of the cells are reassembled and applied toa system such as an uninterruptible power source that functions underconditions of a capacity C_(r)<C₂ and a resistance R_(r)>R_(LS3).Alternatively, the reassembled cells are applied similarly torechargeable devices including an emergency lamp, a night-light, and asolar light as similar applications.

Moreover, the cell, which has deteriorated to have the resistance or thelike lower than the corresponding threshold for the secondary batteryuse, is used as a primary battery represented by a power source of aflashlight. The cell is applied to a system configured to discharge acurrent I that satisfies I<I_(rs) (the code I_(rs) denotes the maximumcurrent values when applied to the respective systems) as the primarybattery. Then, the cell is disposed of after entirely discharged.

When the secondary battery module 1 is utilized as described above, itis possible to use inner energy of the battery more effectively and thusto reduce the voltage at the time of disposal. Accordingly, probabilityof occurrence of heat generation or liquid spillage due to a shortcircuit is reduced and safety is also ensured at the time of disposal.In addition, by establishing this reuse system, it is possible to reduceinitial investment costs of the battery and to reduce initialinstallation costs of the large-size battery on the part of a user.

Eleventh Example of an Aspect of the Embodiment

Next, an example of a battery sales service system, to which the batteryinformation management system 8 (8 a) shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 11 isapplied, will be described.

In this specification, the secondary battery or the battery means achargeable and dischargeable battery including secondary batteries suchas a lead-acid battery, a nickel-metal hydride battery and a lithium-ionbattery, an electric double layer capacitor, an ultracapacitor, and thelike. Usually, the secondary battery or the battery means an assembledbattery formed by connecting a plurality of these cells. These secondarybatteries are sold by the battery manufacturer P1 to the systemmanufacturer P2, which is a primary user, for example, an automobilemanufacturer which purchases the secondary batteries and incorporatesthem into products. Then, a system product such as an automobileincorporating the secondary batteries is purchased by the end user P3who is a secondary user.

The secondary battery incorporated in a system product such as anautomobile is gradually deteriorated while being used by the end userP3. Accordingly, the secondary battery controller 2 included in thesecondary battery system 7 stores the usage history and the electricalcharacteristic data of the secondary battery in the battery informationstorage unit 17 of the secondary battery module 1. At the same time, thesecondary battery controller 2 checks whether or not the characteristicdata attain predetermined thresholds. When the characteristic dataattain the predetermined thresholds, the secondary battery controller 2notifies a warning for battery replacement to a host system such as thenavigation device 61.

In the meantime, the system manufacturer P2 or the battery maintenanceservice agency P4 assigned by the system manufacturer P2 receivesinformation on the secondary battery modules 1 sold to the systemmanufacturer P2 by the battery manufacturer P1 accumulates theinformation in the battery information DB 32 of the battery informationmanagement device 3. The information includes product identificationnumber and the electrical characteristic data and the like. Meanwhile,the battery maintenance service agency P4 checks the usage history andthe electrical characteristic data stored in the battery informationstorage unit 17 of the secondary battery module 1 at the time of aperiodic check or inspection of the automobile, for example. The batterymaintenance service agency P4 then judges the battery condition of thesecondary battery module 1, and offers services that include therewriting of the battery control characteristic data for optimization byway of maintenance and repair.

Moreover, the battery maintenance service agency P4 recovers and unloadsthe secondary battery module 1, for example, upon receipt ofnotification of a warning for battery replacement from the end user P3through the host system such as the navigation device 61 and thecommunications network 5 or upon receipt of similar notification by atelephone call or when the battery maintenance service agency P4recognizes a necessity of battery replacement at the time of amaintenance service.

The unloaded secondary battery module 1 is caused to undergo aprescribed process for confirming the battery usage history and thelike, and the information on the battery usage history and theelectrical characteristic data are registered in the battery informationDB 32 of the battery information management device 3. Thereafter, thesecondary battery module 1 is returned from the battery maintenanceservice agency P4 to the battery manufacturer P1.

The battery manufacturer P1 makes reference to the battery informationDB 32 through the terminal device 4 to acquire the information on thebattery usage history and the electrical characteristic data of thereturned secondary battery module 1. Then, the battery manufacturer P1sorts and grades the secondary battery module 1 based on theinformation. Thereafter, based on a result of the grading and on theapplication system DB (the unillustrated DB included in the batteryinformation management device 3) which stores the list of theapplication systems for the secondary battery module 1 and the operatingconditions, the thresholds required by the corresponding applicationsystems and the like, the battery manufacturer P1 resells the secondarybattery module 1 to another system manufacturer P2.

The battery manufacturer P1 repeats the resale of the secondary batterymodule 1 by means of the similar procedure, which is returned andresold. Then, in a case where it is no longer possible to resell thesecondary battery module 1 in the similar manner, due to deteriorationthereof, the secondary battery module 1 is applied to a primary batteryapplication, and is then processed for disposal by the waste disposer P6after fully discharged. Alternatively, after disassembling the secondarybattery module 1 into the cells, the cells are reassembled into anothersecondary battery for other applications. After the secondary battery isused, the battery is fully discharged in the primary batteryapplication, and is processed for disposal by the waste disposer P6.Here, the disposal process is conducted by the prescribed waste disposerP6, and the secondary battery to be disposed is caused to undergocrushing and separation processes, and is then separated into recyclablematerials and waste residue.

As described above, it is possible to reduce market prices of secondarybatteries by repeatedly recovering, reselling, and fully utilizing thesecondary battery module 1.

1. A secondary battery module, which is connected to a batterycontroller, which operates under control by the battery controller, andwhich is chargeable and dischargeable, the secondary battery modulecomprising: battery information storage means for storing at least oneof electrical characteristic information and usage history informationon the secondary battery module; and interface means for connecting thebattery information storage means to the battery controller.
 2. Thesecondary battery module according to claim 1, wherein the batteryinformation storage means is configured to be included in a radiofrequency identification tag.
 3. The secondary battery module accordingto claim 1, wherein the interface means includes password judging means,any of a reading operation and a writing operation by the batteryinformation storage means is validated when the password judging meansjudges that a predetermined password is inputted, and any of the readingoperation and the writing operation by the battery information storagemeans is invalidated when the password judging means judges that thepredetermined password is not inputted.
 4. The secondary battery moduleaccording to claim 1 further comprising: second interface means forconnecting the battery information storage means to another devicedifferent from the battery controller.
 5. The secondary battery moduleaccording to claim 4, wherein the second interface means is interfacemeans for connecting the battery information storage means to a portablestorage medium storage device.
 6. The secondary battery module accordingto claim 4, wherein the second interface means is interface means forconnecting the battery information storage means to a portable storagemedium storage device, the secondary battery module comprising at leastone of a read switch and a write switch on a housing for containing thesecondary battery module, the read switch instructing an operation toread information stored in the battery information storage means out tothe portable storage medium storage device, and the write switchinstructing an operation to write information stored in the portablestorage medium storage device into the battery information storagemeans.
 7. The secondary battery module according to claim 4, wherein thesecond interface means includes password judging means, any of a readingoperation and a writing operation by the battery information storagemeans is validated when the password judging means judges that apredetermined password is inputted, and any of the reading operation andthe writing operation by the battery information storage means isinvalidated when the password judging means judges that thepredetermined password is not inputted.
 8. A battery informationmanagement device connected to a secondary battery module includingbattery information storage means for storing at least one of electricalcharacteristic information and usage history information on thesecondary battery module as battery information, the battery informationmanagement device comprising: information processing means including atleast a central processing unit and a memory; output means foroutputting a result of information processing by the informationprocessing means; and interface means for connecting the secondarybattery module to the information processing means, wherein theinformation processing means reads the battery information stored in thebattery information storage means of the secondary battery module by useof the interface means, the information processing means grades thesecondary battery module for reuse based on at least one thresholdpredetermined with respect to the battery information and the batteryinformation which is read out, and the information processing meansoutputs grading information obtained as a result of the grading to theoutput means.
 9. The battery information management device according toclaim 8, further comprising: a battery information database foraccumulating the battery information read out by the interface meanswhile associating the battery information with identificationinformation on the secondary battery module outputting the batteryinformation.
 10. The battery information management device according toclaim 9, wherein the battery information database further accumulatesthe grading information while associating the grading information withthe identification information on the secondary battery module.
 11. Thebattery information management device according to claim 8, wherein theinformation processing means further performs a predetermined encodingprocess on information to be written into the battery informationstorage means of the secondary battery module, and performs apredetermined decoding process on the information read out of thebattery information storage means.
 12. A battery information managementsystem comprising: a battery information management device, which isconnected to a secondary battery module including battery informationstorage means for storing at least one of electrical characteristicinformation and usage history information on the secondary batterymodule as battery information, which reads the battery informationstored in the battery information storage means, and which includes abattery information database for accumulating the battery informationthus read out while associating the battery information withidentification information on the secondary battery module retaining thebattery information; a terminal device, which is connected to thesecondary battery module, which reads the battery information stored inthe battery information storage means of the secondary battery module,and which transmits the battery information thus read out and theidentification information on the secondary battery module to thebattery information management device; a communications network mutuallyconnecting the battery information management device with the terminaldevice, wherein the battery information management device registers thebattery information transmitted from the terminal device and theidentification information on the secondary battery module retaining thebattery information in the battery information database whileassociating the battery information with the identification information.13. The battery information management system according to claim 12,wherein the battery information management device further grades thesecondary battery module for reuse based on at least one thresholdpredetermined with respect to each piece of the battery information andthe battery information which is read out, when reading the batteryinformation stored in the battery information storage means of thesecondary battery module or when reading the battery. informationregistered in the battery information database, and the batteryinformation management device further registers grading informationobtained as a result of the grading in the battery information databasewhile associating the grading information with the secondary batterymodule.
 14. The battery information management system according to claim12, wherein a host system for a secondary battery including thesecondary battery module is further connected to the communicationsnetwork, and the host system for the secondary battery transmits thebattery information stored in the battery information storage means ofthe secondary battery module to the battery information managementdevice through the communications network.
 15. A secondary battery reusesystem for reusing a secondary battery module of a secondary batterysystem configured by including at least one secondary battery module,the secondary battery reuse system comprising: battery informationacquiring means for acquiring at least one piece of battery informationfrom the secondary battery system, the battery information selected fromthe group consisting of a resistance, a capacity, battery operatingtime, a resistance changing rate, a capacity changing rate, and batteryuse intensity, of each of the secondary battery modules included in thesecondary battery system; threshold attainment judging means for judgingwhether or not the acquired battery information attains a thresholdpredetermined with respect to the battery information; and grading meansfor recovering the secondary battery module and grading of the recoveredsecondary battery module according to a battery performance based on thebattery information on the recovered secondary battery module, when thethreshold attainment judging means judges that any one piece of thebattery information on the secondary battery module attains thethreshold, wherein the recovered secondary battery module is applied toa system having threshold conditions, under which the recoveredsecondary battery module is operable with the battery performance at apoint of the recovery, based on a result of the grading by the gradingmeans.
 16. The secondary battery reuse system according to claim 15,wherein each of the secondary battery modules includes batteryinformation storage means for storing at least one piece of the batteryinformation selected from the group consisting of the resistance, thecapacity, the battery operating time, the resistance changing rate, thecapacity changing rate, and the battery use intensity, of the secondarybattery module, and the battery information acquiring means acquires thebattery information by reading the battery information out of thebattery information storage means of each of the secondary batterymodules.
 17. A secondary battery reuse system for reusing a chargeableand dischargeable cell of a secondary battery module configured byincluding at least one cell, the secondary battery reuse systemcomprising: battery information acquiring means for acquiring at leastone piece of battery information from the secondary battery module, thebattery information selected from the group consisting of a resistance,a capacity, battery operating time, a resistance changing rate, acapacity changing rate, and battery use intensity, of the secondarybattery module; threshold attainment judging means for judging whetheror not the acquired battery information attains a thresholdpredetermined with respect to the battery information; and performanceevaluating means for recovering the secondary battery module,disassembling the secondary battery module into the cells, andevaluating a performance of each of the disassembled cells, when thethreshold attainment judging means judges that any one piece of thebattery information on the secondary battery module attains thethreshold, wherein each of the evaluated cells is applied to anapplication at a voltage and a current, in which the evaluated cell isoperable with the battery performance, based on a result of theevaluation.
 18. A secondary battery recovery and sales system forrecovering and selling a secondary battery module of a secondary batterysystem configured by including at least one of secondary batterymodules, the secondary battery recovery and sales system comprising:battery information acquiring means for acquiring at least one piece ofbattery information from the secondary battery system, the batteryinformation selected from the group consisting of a resistance, acapacity, battery operating time, a resistance changing rate, a capacitychanging rate, and battery use intensity, of each of the secondarybattery modules included in the secondary battery system; thresholdattainment judging means for judging whether or not the acquired batteryinformation attains a threshold predetermined with respect to thebattery information; and application system storage means for storing alist of application systems for a secondary battery and at least onethreshold condition selected from the group consisting of a resistance,a capacity, battery operating time, a resistance changing rate, acapacity changing rate, and battery use intensity of the secondarybattery module, for establishing an operation of each of the applicationsystems, wherein the secondary battery is recovered when the thresholdattainment judging means judges that any one piece of the batteryinformation on the secondary battery module attains the threshold, therecovered secondary battery is applied to grading based on the batteryinformation on the recovered secondary battery module, and the recoveredsecondary module is sold to a manufacturer of a system having thethreshold conditions, under which the recovered secondary module isoperable with a battery performance at a point of the recovery, withreference to the application system storage means based on a result ofthe grading.
 19. The secondary battery recovery and sales systemaccording to claim 18, wherein each of the secondary battery modulesincludes battery information storage means for storing at least onepiece of the battery information selected from the group consisting ofthe resistance, the capacity, the battery operating time, the resistancechanging rate, the capacity changing rate, and the battery useintensity, of the secondary battery module, and the battery informationacquiring means acquires the battery information by reading the batteryinformation out of the battery information storage means of thesecondary battery module.
 20. A secondary battery reuse method ofreusing a secondary battery module of a secondary battery systemconfigured by including at least one secondary battery module, themethod comprising the steps of: acquiring at least one piece of batteryinformation from the secondary battery system, the battery informationselected from the group consisting of a resistance, a capacity, batteryoperating time, a resistance changing rate, a capacity changing rate,and battery use intensity, of each of the secondary battery modulesincluded in the secondary battery system; judging whether or not theacquired battery information attains a threshold predetermined withrespect to the battery information; recovering the secondary batterymodule when it is judged that any one piece of the battery informationon the secondary battery module attains the threshold in the judgingstep; grading the recovered secondary battery module according to abattery performance based on the battery information on the recoveredsecondary battery module; and applying the recovered secondary batterymodule to a system having threshold conditions, under which thesecondary battery module is operable with the battery performance at apoint of the recovery, based on a result of the grading by the gradingmeans.
 21. The secondary battery reuse method according to claim 20,wherein each of the secondary battery modules includes batteryinformation storage means for storing at least one piece of the batteryinformation selected from the group consisting of the resistance, thecapacity, the battery operating time, the resistance changing rate, thecapacity changing rate, and the battery use intensity, of the secondarybattery module, and the battery information is acquired by reading thebattery information out of the battery information storage means of thesecondary battery module in the acquiring step.
 22. A secondary batteryreuse method of reusing a chargeable and dischargeable cell of asecondary battery module configured by including at least one cell, thesecondary battery reuse method comprising the steps of: acquiring atleast one piece of battery information from the secondary batterymodule, the battery information selected from the group consisting of aresistance, a capacity, battery operating time, a resistance changingrate, a capacity changing rate, and battery use intensity, of thesecondary battery module; judging whether or not the acquired batteryinformation attains a threshold predetermined with respect to thebattery information; recovering the secondary battery module when it isjudged that any one piece of the battery information on the secondarybattery module attains the threshold in the judging step; disassemblingthe secondary battery module into the cells and evaluating a performanceof each of the disassembled cells; and applying each of the evaluatedcells to an application operable at a voltage and a current, in whichthe evaluated cell is operable with the battery performance, based on aresult of the evaluation.
 23. A secondary battery recovery and salesmethod of recovering and selling a secondary battery module of asecondary battery system configured by including at least one secondarybattery module, the secondary battery recovery and sales methodcomprising: application system storage means for storing a list ofapplication systems for a secondary battery and at least one thresholdcondition selected from the group consisting of a resistance, acapacity, battery operating time, a resistance changing rate, a capacitychanging rate, and battery use intensity of the secondary battery moduleestablishing an operation of each of the application systems in advance;the secondary battery recovery and sales method further comprising thesteps of: acquiring at least one piece of battery information from thesecondary battery system, the battery information selected from thegroup consisting of the resistance, the capacity, the battery operatingtime, the resistance changing rate, the capacity changing rate, and thebattery use intensity of the secondary battery module included in thesecondary battery system; judging whether or not the acquired batteryinformation attains a threshold predetermined with respect to thebattery information; recovering the secondary battery module when it isjudged that any one piece of the battery information on the secondarybattery module attains the threshold in the judging step; grading therecovered secondary battery module based on the battery information onthe recovered secondary battery module; and selling the recoveredsecondary battery module to a manufacturer of a system having thethreshold condition, under which the recovered secondary battery moduleis operable with a battery performance at a point of the recovery, withreference to the application system storage means based on a result ofthe grading.
 24. The secondary battery recovery and sales methodaccording to claim 23, wherein the secondary battery module includesbattery information storage means for storing at least one piece of thebattery information selected from the group consisting of theresistance, the capacity, the battery operating time, the resistancechanging rate, the capacity changing rate, and the battery useintensity, of the secondary battery module, and the battery informationis acquired by reading the battery information out of the batteryinformation storage means of the secondary battery module in theacquiring step.